From London’s prestigious Theatre Royal Drury Lane to the National Theatre in Bergen, Norway, Stevensons have long been associated with the restoration of theatre plasterwork. With public safety more important than ever, Stevensons provide a complete inspection, repair and replacement service for plasterwork within theatres, covering historic ceilings, balconies and ornamental plasterwork.
A complete survey of your existing plasterwork is undertaken on-site, checking the structural integrity and potential water ingress points above and below the plasterwork. Detailed sketches and photographs will be produced during the survey. For public buildings, a baseline ABTT survey will be undertaken with a structural engineer present. At the end of the survey, you will be presented with a thorough report of your plasterwork, including detailed plans, sketches and re-inspection timescales. Depending on the result, your plasterwork will be certified.
Wherever possible, in situ repairs will take place on the plaster mouldings using traditional methods to match the existing design. This includes the re-securing of loose plaster, physical repairs to cracked or damaged surfaces, and ensuring that the moulding is secured firmly to primary and secondary fixing points.
Where plasterwork is damaged beyond repair, the Stevensons plasterers will work to preserve the original design by taking a rubber imprint of the plasterwork, a process known as ‘squeezing’. Through our team of designers, or by using the ‘squeezed’ moulds, we can recreate detailed plaster designs, restoring the theatre to its original glory.
Following completion of the restoration work, a further survey is completed with a structural surveyor, which will result in the theatre being certified in line with ABTT guidelines.
Plasterwork Survey
Built in 1936, The Grand Hall at the Queen Mary University of London is used regularly for both lectures and drama productions. Due to its age and the detailed façade reliefs by Eric Gill, Stevensons were invited to complete a plaster survey to ascertain the current state of the plasterwork.
Working with a structural engineer, a thorough survey was undertaken, including a detailed inspection of the fibrous plaster ceiling and the insulation boards behind it, which were removed, examined, and replaced. Pressure testing found the overall structure to be in a good condition, and a ABTT safety certificate was granted.
Plasterwork Survey
Built in 1936, The Grand Hall at the Queen Mary University of London is used regularly for both lectures and drama productions. Due to its age and the detailed façade reliefs by Eric Gill, Stevensons were invited to complete a plaster survey to ascertain the current state of the plasterwork.
Working with a structural engineer, a thorough survey was undertaken, including a detailed inspection of the fibrous plaster ceiling and the insulation boards behind it, which were removed, examined, and replaced. Pressure testing found the overall structure to be in a good condition, and a ABTT safety certificate was granted.
Complete Theatre Plasterwork Restoration
Stevensons of Norwich were responsible for the entire restoration, repair and in places, replacement of the original decorative and heritage plasterwork.
Numerous original architectural and decorative elements were brought to our Works in Norwich to assist with the specialist process of matching and replicating the plasterwork ahead of the new casts being transported to London for installation by our team.
Despite the numerous challenges of 2020, the project at The Theatre Royal proved an interesting and exciting environment to work and we look forward to our next theatre restoration project.
Complete Theatre Plasterwork Restoration
Stevensons of Norwich were responsible for the entire restoration, repair and in places, replacement of the original decorative and heritage plasterwork.
Numerous original architectural and decorative elements were brought to our Works in Norwich to assist with the specialist process of matching and replicating the plasterwork ahead of the new casts being transported to London for installation by our team.
Despite the numerous challenges of 2020, the project at The Theatre Royal proved an interesting and exciting environment to work and we look forward to our next theatre restoration project.